FLAG DAY?
I bolted upright in bed one night
With an eye's wide open stare
I awoke from a terrible dream
That our Flag was no longer there
America's freedom was gone
And clouds covered the Sun
All the bells of liberty
Have now ceased to be rung
The grand Statue of Liberty
Was tarnished and coated with rust
The pearly white crosses of Arlington
Were caked with years of dust
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Looked so vacant and forlorn
Then I saw Old Glory...
Burnt, shredded and torn
I saw no other Soldiers
Nor Veterans of the past
No one stood by the Granite Wall
It appears it had seen it's last
That proud generation had died
Our young were never told
Of the sacrifice for freedom
By the war torn Veterans of old
I returned to the Tomb of the Unknown
And gathered up our precious Flag
That once flew so proudly
Now, Red White and Blue rags
I folded the torn shreds gently
And held them closely to my chest
How this tragedy happened
This former veteran could only guess
I believe deep in my heart
Our country abandoned special days
And when the last Veteran died
Honor went with him to the grave
Though this was only a dream
And Old Glory continues to fly
How many paid her homage today
As by Her colors passed on by?
Do all men see our heritage?
Do the Free truly understand?
Would Old Glory even be noticed?
If Flag Day was not planned?
©Copyright June 4, 2006 by Richard D. Preston
Author’s Note: Our Nation's standard is in jeopardy; some are indifferent as to the treatment of our beloved Flag. Perhaps it is because they have never seen Old Glory flown over a field of battle, or the blood shed by our nation's heroes to preserve its honor.
The right to burn or desecrate our Flag is not an option with me; it's not a right or a freedom of expression. To fly our Flag and to live under the colors of our nation is a privilege and, the freedom it represents is much too precious to ignore.
Some have said, that to say...." this is our flag love it or leave it"... is radical and promotes hatred and division among the masses. I'm here to say so be it..."LOVE OUR FLAG OR LEAVE OUR NATION". Respect it or pay the consequence, take it away and loose everything it represents, to burn it in my presence is an act of aggression and the one who lit the match had better be prepared to fight.
To me the Star Spangled Banner still brings tears to my eyes and gets my heart started. What say you citizen?
Boondocker
June 4, 2006